Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Beyond the Usual Suspects: Case Series of Salmonella and Brucella With Comprehensive Literature Review

TL;DR

This paper reports two rare cases of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by Salmonella and Brucella, emphasizing the importance of recognizing atypical pathogens for better patient outcomes.

Contribution

The paper presents two rare clinical cases of SBP caused by Salmonella and Brucella, expanding the known etiology of the condition.

Findings

Salmonella caused SBP in a patient with chronic liver disease, leading to fatal deterioration despite treatment.

Brucella was identified as the cause of SBP in a patient with liver cirrhosis and responded well to treatment.

Atypical pathogens like Salmonella and Brucella should be considered in SBP diagnosis for improved management.

Abstract

While
Escherichia coli
, Streptococcus, and Klebsiella species traditionally account for most cases of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), atypical pathogens can be found. Salmonella, typically known for causing gastroenteritis, rarely manifests as SBP, while Brucella, a zoonotic pathogen, presents a unique challenge in the context of peritoneal infection. In this report, we present two cases of SBP caused by these atypical organisms. The first case involved a 58‐year‐old female with a history of hepatitis C‐related chronic liver disease and cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, who presented with SBP and hepatorenal syndrome‐associated acute kidney injury. Salmonella was identified in both ascitic fluid and blood cultures, but despite appropriate treatment, the patient experienced a fatal deterioration. The second case features a 52‐year‐old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus and newly diagnosed schistosomiasis, who presented with findings of decompensated liver cirrhosis and SBP. Brucella was isolated from ascitic fluid cultures, and the patient responded well to treatment. We aim to highlight the need for early recognition of atypical causes of SBP to improve management and outcomes.